A little girl who was born with a rare condition which caused her to go blind in one eye has landed a dream modelling job.
Maisy Spencer from Ellesmere Port, was just two days old when doctors at Arrowe Park Hospital noticed a problem with the sight in her left eye and she was soon transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
It was here that Maisy was diagnosed with congenital cataracts and Persistent Hyperplastic Primary vitreous (PHPV) - a condition which causes jelly in the eye to become damaged and blocks light from passing to the back of the eye.
After spending the first four years of her life in and out of hospital for checkups and operations in a bid to save her sight, parents Leanne and Dave were told her vision was unlikely to improve.
However, Maisy, now aged nine, has not let the condition stop her from achieving her dreams, after landing her first modelling contract aged three years old.
She has gone on model for brands including River Island and has travelled to Italy with the international agency Sugar Kids.
Mum Leanne, 31, told the ECHO: "It's hard to put into words what it feels like when your child goes through something like that.
"I can't imagine losing sight in my eye now after always having it but she's been through that since she was a baby and she's built up such a strong resilience.
"She doesn't know any different - that's one thing that's a god send in a way.
"We're so proud of her for everything, she's really inspirational."
Maisy has had a total of eleven operations on her left eye and has to go for regular checkups and hospital appointments.
Leanne said: "Maisy first started modelling when she was three years old. Her dance teacher said 'you should sign her up to an agency she's got a fabulous personality. '
"I thought we've got nothing to lose and it all went from there."
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Maisy's first modelling job was for Aldi's special buy magazines for their toy ranges and she was later signed by Boss Models in Manchester.
Since then she has travelled to Italy and London for different shoots including for River Island's Labels are for Clothes campaign.
Leanne said: "It was all about inclusion and how a disability isn't a label, everyone has the same right to do things. It was brilliant.
"To her modelling is a hobby that she really enjoys doing, she takes everything in her stride.
"She enjoys the experience and getting to see different places."
As a way to give back to Alder Hey, Maisy and her family have done a number of different fundraising events including a 5k and a sky dive.
In total they have raised an incredible £10,800 for the hospital.
Leanne added: "We've formed such an amazing relationship with the staff at Alder Hey.
"Maisy's nurse Jodie has been looking after her since the day she went there.
"I don't think we would have got what we've got there at any other hospital."
For more information on Maisy and her family's fundraising click here.
